Record holder for talking machines



F. c. JONES RECORD HOLDER FOR TALKING MACHINES Fi1ed Dec. 1, 192s Nov. 24, 1925.

Patented Nov. 245i, "925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. JONES, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSTGNOR TO VICTOR TALKING MACHTNE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RECORD HLDER FOR TALKING MACHINES.

Application filed December 1, 1923,

To ZZ Iwhom t may concer-a.' Y

lie it known that l, FREDERICK C. donne,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, in the county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Record Holders for ylallring Machines, of which the following is a specilication.

my invention relates to record holders for talking machines and in particular relates to the providing of record holding and retaining devices within the casing of relatively small portable cabineted talking machines when the machine is being carried from one place to another.

lin designing and constructing portable cabineted or enclosed talking,machinesj several factors at least have to be considered. rhe motor for turning the turntable must be large enough to run steadily and sul'liciently long to reproduce one or more records without rewinding; the horn or ampliier must be large enough to reproduce sound in volume fairly comparable to that obtainable from large non-portable machines; and the size of the cabinet must be as small as it can be made with the factors above noted taken into consideration.

Hence it is that the various parts of the sound reproducing mechanism for a portable talking machine are arranged and disposed in the casing or cabinet in the most compact and advantageous manner, it being desirable to maire the cabinet itself only large enough to contain the said mechanism with the result that almost all of the space within the cabinet is occupied by the sound reproducing mechanism.

0f course, it would be possible to increase the size of the casing of a portabletalking machine to provide a compartment in which records might be placed an-L` i transported, but that is undesirable because portable talking machines are at best quite heavy and bulky and any increase in the size of the cabinet would detract from the portability of the machine.

ln almost any portable talking machines and particularly in those of the type wherein the sound reproducer is connected to the free end of a horizontally swinging pivotd tone arm to be propelled across the record by the engagement of the stylus with the sound record groove, there must be a clear Serial No. 677,947.

space between the turntable and the lower surface of the swinging arm because the axis of the swinging portion of the tone arm and the axis of the circular sound box attached thereto are in substantially the same plane and the distance between the axis of the sound box and the turntable is consequently considerably greater than the radius of the largest transverse section of the horizontally swinging portion of the tone arm. rlhis clear unoccupied space between the turntable and the swinging arm is horizontally as large or larger than the turntable and the record adapted to be placed thereon, and said space is vertically as high as a stack f live or six or possibly more disc talking machine records. lt is this space that l utilize to store a plurality of records and ixedly clamp them in said space when the machine is being transported from place to place without increasing in any manner whatsoever the outside dimensions of the casing or cabinet, and this constitutes one of the objects of my invention.

In some talking machines of the type above referred to the swinging tone arm may be swung laterally when the machine is not being operated to reproduce sound, so that no part thereof is vertically over the turntable. ln such machines there may be even more space vertically above the face of the turntable on which records may be stored during the transporting of the device. In such constructions the height of the stack of records which may be so placed on the turntable would not be necessarily limited to the distance between the turntable and the underside ofthe tone arm but by the shortest distance between the interior of the lid and the surface of the turntable.

A further object of my invention is to hold a plurality of records recurely and immovable with respect to each. other in a space of a cabinet of a portable talking machine which might be otherwise empty during transportation of the machine,

A further object of my invention is to provide means for holding a stack of records on the turntable of a portable talking machine in such a way that they cannot move or chafe during transportation of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in which with equal facility one or a plurality of records may be securely held and clamped on the turntable by merely closing and locking or tastening the pivoted lid of a portable talking machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide means operative to automatically clamp and hold on a turntable one or a plurality of talking machine records by merely closing the lid and fastening it in closed position.

Further ologects or my invention will appear in the specification below.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference charac-ters are use-d throughout the various views to designate the same parts,

Fig. 1 is a. longitudinal view in section ot the upper portion of a cabinet of a portable talking machine and the pivoted lid or cover thereof, showing in dotted lines the relative position and size of the tapering swinging tone arm and sound box; the turntable with a plurality of disc talking machine records stacked and clamped thereon, and the record clamping member secured to the inside ot' the lid or cover ol' the cabinet or casing in alinement with the turntable spindle;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on a scale larger than that of Fig. 1 of the clamping and holding member and of portions of a plurality or stack of talking machine records supported on the turntable with the upper end or extension of the spindle passing through the usual holes at the centers ot the records; and

lligj?) is a sectional view on the line 3 3 et Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the cabinet, box or casing 1 (of which the top edge only is shown) ot' a portable cabineted talking machine is provided with a lid 2 pivoted or hinged tothe rear wall 3 of the casing 1 on hinges 4. The tone arm 5 is mounted in the cabinet to swing` relatively horizontally on a pivotal mounting 6 which may be located or mounted in the mouth or larger end 7 of the amplilier 8.

rlhe motor board 9 is mounted on and is secured within the upper end of the cabinet or casing 1 in any suitable manner, and to the underside ot the motor board 9 is attached by screws 10, 10, the motor frame 11 which carries the motor mechanism (not shown) for driving the spindle 12 which extends vertically through a hole 13 in the motor board 9. On the spindle 12 is mounted a turntable 14, the hub 15 of which is formed with a hole or bore which lits the outer surtace of the turntable spindle 12. The lower end ot the hub may be provided with a notch 16 into which fits a pin 17 extending transversely thro-ugh said spindle, to

prevent any relative rotational movement between the turntable and the spindle.

In talking machines, as usually constructed, the turntable spindle lextends only a short distance above the top surface of a record placed on the turntable, its function being tor positioning the record concentrically with respect to the turntable. The upper end of the turntable spindle is usually .integral with the spindle.

But in transporting a portable talking machine, the box or casing is liable to be put in any position. ln tact, the'handles ot such machines are usually so arranged on a. side wall of the box or casing that the spindle is horizontal when the machine is being carried from place to place. 1t is therefore desirable to secure the turntable to the spindle in such a manner that it will not become separated tro-m the spindle during the transportation of the machine and handling thereof incident thereto.

l make the turntable spindle in two parts, i

viz, the main portion 12 around the top olf which the turntable hub 15 smoothly and a coaxial extension 18 which projects above the upper surface ot the turntable 14 a little higher than the height ot a stack of as many records as can be placed on the turntable without interfering with the tone arm or the closing of the lid 2.

The extension 18 ot the spindle is so constructed that in addition to performing its function'oi4I positioning a stack ot' records concentrically with the center ofthe turntable, it also performs the function ot' inseparably holding the turntable on the spindle. To this end the upper end of the main portion of the spindle 12 is provided with a screw-threaded hole 19 adapted to receive the correspondingly threaded end 20 ot the extension 18 ot the spindle. This extension 18 is provided with atlange 21 which is greater in diameter than the diameter oit the top ot the main portion of the spindle, and when connected to the spindle, shown in Fig. 1, it provides a .shoulder which prevents the turntable from being separated from the spindle. The tree end ot the extension 18 may be provided with a transverse hole 22 in which a rod may be inserted lor tightly securing the extension 18 lo the vupper end ot the main portion ot the spindle 12.

@n the inside of the lid or cover 2 of the cabinet and in alinemcnt with the spindle 12 when the lid closed, is secured a clamp ing device 2? comprising a base plate 24 adapted to be secured by screws 25 to the lining or sound detlector 26, and preferably to a block or strip 27 of wood secured to the lid between the inside out the outer portion of lid and the lining 26. The base plate is provided with a shallow cup-like projection or cylinder head 28 which may be permanently secured to the base plate 24 by upsetting the end of a rivet-like lug 29 passing through a suitable hole in the base plate 24. The outer surface of this rojection 28 may be screw threaded to E screw-threads in the inside surface of one end of a cylindrical casing 30. The opposite end of the cylindrical casing 30 is provided with a circular opening 31 through which a plunger 32 is adapted to freely pass. lThe diameter of the opening 31 is somewhat less than the diameter of the bore through the cylindrical casing 30 so that the lower end of the cylindrical casing 30 is provided with a shoulder 33. The plunger 32 is provided on its inner end with a circular flange 34 adapted to smoothly iit and slide against the inner cylindrical surface of the casing 30 and its outer end may be of slightly smaller diameter than the outside diameter of the plunger proper andv may be provided with screw-threads 35 adapted to fit into a correspondingly threaded hole at the center of a disc 36 to form a circular head 37 on the free end of the plunger 32. The lower face of this head 37 is preferably provided with a washer 38 of felt or other soft yielding material secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by gluing or cementing the felt to the face of the disc 36. In the passage 39 through the plunger 32 is provided a ledge or shoulder 40 upon which is seated a ring or washer 41 and between this ring 41 and the cupped projection 28 is compressed a spiral spring 42 which exerts a pressure against the plunger tending to force the plunger and the parts carried thereby outwardly away from the base plate 24.

In Fig. 1 the relative position and size of the tone arm and sound box 43 when the latter is resting on the turntable 14 and the lid is raised, is indicated in dotted lines. The diameter of the sound box 43 is considerably larger than the diameter of the horizontally extending portion of the tapered arm or tone arm 5 but the axis of the sound box and the axis of the horizontally extending tone arm lie in substantially the same plane 44. The underside of the tone arm 5 is therefore substantially spaced from the top surface of the turntable and when the sound box 43 is removed yfrom the end of the tone arm and the tone arm is swung laterally to one side of the casing, as many records may be stacked on the turntable with the extension 18 passing through the usual holes in the centers of the records as will occupy the space between the underside of the tone arm 5 and the surface of the turntable. If the machine is wide enough to permit the tone arm 5 to be swung laterally so that no part of it is over the turntable, then even more records may be stacked on thc turntable so long as the top record does not engage the lid 2 or the lining or deflector t corresponding 26 inside of the lid or cause the lplunger to strike against the bottom of the cylinder before the lid is closed.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming the vlid 2' to be raised, the sound box 43 to have been removed from the tone arm 5, or swung therewith Ato one side and fastened or secured there in any suitable manner, any suitable number of talking machine records are placed on the turntable, the upper extension of the spindle passing through the usual holes in the-centers of the records. The lid 2 is now slowly lowered about the pivot formed by the hinges 4. As soon as the head 37' engages the top record of the stack 45' of records, its downward movement with the cover or lid 2 stops as the lowering of the lid or cover continues, the outer cylindrical casing 30 slides downwardly over the plunger 32 compressing the spring 42, and this continues until the edges ofthe lid rest on the top edges of the casing and the lid is closed. This final position is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lid is then fastened or locked as by the fastenings 46. l

In Figs. 1 and 2, sixreco'rds are shown in thestack 45'. If a lfewer number of records are placed on'the turntable, theh'ole or passage 39 through the plunger 32 and through the washer 38 and'through the spring 35 all being larger than the outside diameter of the extension 18 of the spindle 12 will permit the plunger to pass downwardly over the spindle until the head 37 engages the topmost record, whereupon the downward movement of the plunger with the lid or cover will be arrested and the cylinder 30 will slide over the lplunger' 32 until the lid is closed.

Since the operation of the clamping device 23 takes place during the last one or two inches of the movement of the front edge of the cover or lid 2 and since the hinges 4 are relatively lremote from the plunger, lthe arc through which the clamping device' m'oves `afterthe plunger engages the topmost record is exceedingly slight. It is substantially a lstraight line and any outward slide or vslip of the head 37 on the face of the record is so'slight as to bev negligible. Y

To put the machine into sound reproducing condition, it is only necessary to unlock the fastenings 46 and raise the lid 2 where upon the reverse of the above described operation takes place. The cylinder 30 rises with the lid untilthe shoulder 33 en* gages the -flange 34 on the plunger 32 whereupon the cylinder and plunger move as one with the cover away from the stack of records. The lid may be held open by any well-known lid supporting device.

The stack of records is now removed from the turntable, the arm is swung over the `said turntable and a cover for said easing, of means secured to the inside olf said cover to clamp a number of records on said spindle by and between said turntable and said means, said. means comprising a casing secured to said cover, a plunger mounted and retained in said casing and a spring tending to force said plunger outwardly from said casing, and means to lock said cover in closed position.

l0. The combination with a portable talkingmachine comprising a casing, a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable, a cover for said casing, and means to tasten said cover in closed position, of means secured to the inside of said cover to clamp a number of records on said spindle by and between said turntable and said means, said means comprising a casing, a plunger mounted and retained in said casing, and a spring tending to force said plunger outwardly from said casing, said plunger being in alinement With said spindle when said lid is closed and providing an opening therethrough ior the reception of the upper end of said spindle.

ll. In a record clamping device, the coni- I bination of a plate adapted to be secured to the inside of the lid ol? a talking machine, a cylinder mounted thereon, a plunger mounted to reciprocate in said cylinder and having an axial bore throughout its length providing a shoulder near the outer end of said bore of said plunger, a cylindrical spring mounted Within said cylinder and said plunger, having its outer end seated on said shoulder and providing a clear passage through said plunger and the `interior of said spring to substantially the bottom of said cylinder, and means to limit the outward movement of said plunger.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, 1923.

FREDERICK C. JONES.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,563,299, granted November Q4, 1925, upon the application of Frederick C. Jones, of Camden, New Jersey, for an improvement in Record Holders for Talking;` l\/[achines,7 errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 9G, for the mis spelled Word reeurely read securely; page 3, line S3, after the Word stops insert the Word but; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may vconform to the record of the Case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of January, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] J XVM. A. KIN N AN,

Acting Uommdssz'oaer of Patents. 

